Papiss Cisse dedicated his first league goal from open play this season to his absent boss Alan Pardew.

Pardew, who was serving the second helping of his three-game stadium ban for head-butting Hull’s David Meyler, must have been as frustrated as the Toon fans as the misfiring striker missed chance after chance.

Cisse’s stock has fallen markedly since his £9million move to Tyneside two years ago. Before yesterday, he’d only one Premier League goal to his name this season – and that was from the spot.

But in the last seconds, as Palace looked like hanging on for a second successive goalless draw in the North East, Cisse headed past Julian Speroni to give the Magpies the three points.

The Senegalese frontman has often found himself out of favour with Pards, who was watching from the training complex.

It looked as if he’d forgotten how to score.

In the first half, he spun away from his marker but his effort was beaten away by Speroni.

Then he shot straight at the keeper, and missed two more chances.

After the break, unmarked and only a few yards out, he headed Hatem Ben Arfa’s cross over.

It was only when John Carver, stepping in for Pardew, brought on Ben Arfa with half an hour remaining that the home side looked like breaking down the Londoners’ ­resistance.

Apparently a group of senior Toon players have expressed annoyance at the Frenchman’s lack of ­work-rate – and Pardew has warned him that his Newcastle career is on the line. But one thing that can’t be questioned is Ben Arfa’s ­creativity.

In added time he picked the ball up on the right, cut inside Joe Ledley and, instead of shooting, chipped the ball with his left foot on to Cisse’s head.

Carver and the Toon bench exploded with delight as the striker guided the ball into the net.

“Nobody is more pleased for him than me,” said Carver. “He’s not gone missing. He’s not gone into hiding. All he has been lacking is luck.

“He can use that goal to kickstart his season.”

Cisse said: “That goal was for the gaffer – and the team and the staff. It’s not been my year. It’s been very hard for me. But I’ve kept going.”

Palace boss Tony Pulis was furious with referee Lee Probert who played more than the three minutes added time displayed by the fourth official. “I thought we’d seen the game off,” said Pulis, who also thought his side had a good shout for a penalty when Mike Williamson handled just before Cisse’s goal.

Unlike at Sunderland last week, Palace could have nicked the win. They thought they’d taken the lead when Yannick Bolasie’s 25-yard curler looped over Tim Krul – but it clipped the bar.

But Newcastle deserved the win after dominating the game, with more than 20 shots on goal – including a magnificent Cheick Tiote 20-yarder that hit the bar.